Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 231

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 231
Publication Date: November 2011

So now we arrive at the Mecha-Sally saga, the final super-arc Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” comic would attempt before the Ken Penders lawsuit forced a complete continuity reboot. Back in 2011, we had no idea that the comic book as we knew it would be ending suddenly in the very near future. We only knew that this storyline was an unusually grim and long one. If Ian Flynn could ever be said to “loose” it, in my opinion, this was that point. We've got a long journey ahead of us, my friends. Let's start.

“Lost in the Moment” begins with Sonic still aboard the ruined Death Egg, in the grasp of Mecha Sally. Eggman quickly learns that the Death Egg's power source is missing and his back-up plan – blasting Mobotropolis with a massive incinerating beam – is no longer possible. Instead, the villain luxuriates in his one victory: Turning Sonic's girlfriend into a totally obedient robot. Sonic is tossed out of the Death Egg, a Titan Mecha Sonic is sent to attack the city, the Tornado and the Freedom Fighter Special are both destroyed. And that's just the beginning of the Freedom Fighters' troubles.

A lot of shit goes down in “Lost in the Moment.” Ian Flynn, however, does not totally loose the emotional thread in all the chaos. The shock of Princess Sally being transformed into a ruthless robot weighs heavily on Sonic. He's crestfallen by this sight. He attempts to reach out to the Princess, hoping she's still somewhere inside the robotic shell. Instead, she throws him out of a space ship. Sonic has to face something he doesn't usually encounter: Loss. And not just any loss but the loss of probably the most important person in his life. He has to admit to Tails that he failed. In the latter half of the book, he shows a somewhat pathetic drive to save Sally, which Amy has to hold him back from. This is how Sonic is processing this loss. He's a runner, a hero, and a problem solver. But this problem can't be solved by running towards the problem. It's a surprisingly powerful moment.

Sally getting turned into a robot is not the only serious hit the Freedom Fighters take in this issue. Yes, the Tornado and the Freedom Fighter Special – longtime stables in the comic – are destroyed. A Titan Mecha Sonic drops out of the Death Egg and marches on Mobotropolis. (This leads up to a moment that does the impossible: Making Big the Cat likable. When he stands in front of Cream and Vanilla, keeping them safe, it's genuinely heroic.) The only thing that prevents the city from being totally destroyed is Naugus flying in quickly and crystallizing the giant robot.  Even this isn't a win though. Bunnie is caught in the blast and partially crystallized. Moreover, this big gesture makes the Mobians praise Naugus as a hero. Issue 231 leaves the heroes in a really bad place. Robotnik truly has the upper hand this time.

Ben Bates is also back at the pencils and his work is excellent here. As previously established, Bates' grasp of the character designs could not be stronger. The character look correct. Yet Bates also brings an incredible kinetic command of action to the book. The big action beats – the Titan Mecha Sonic falling from the Death Egg, Naugus spraying a magic beam at the robot, Bunnie getting caught in the blast – are brought to life fantastically. Even the smaller moments are pretty cool looking too. Every panel has a lot of energy and life-like jive to it. Such as Robotnik steaming in rage after learning he's lost some of his power. It's not just a good looking issue. It's a cool looking one as well.

The back-up story, “Haunted,” actually takes place at an earlier moment in the story. After Naugus lands on the ground outside Mobotropolis, he feels strange. Inside his head, he sees a vision of Agunus the rhino, Nusgau the bat, and Suguna the lobster. In case you've forgotten about these guys, “Haunted” helpfully recounts issue 66's “And Then There Was One,” which showed Naugus' origins. Apparently one of the Genesis Wave's unforeseen side-effects has been to awaken these long-thought vanquished spirits within Naugus' head. Naugus banishes these voices long enough to go about his mission but he is not resting well.

As a story, “Haunted” mostly just exists to let readers know this new information about Naugus. I had always assumed that, when Nusgau won the race to the sun in “And Then There Was One,” he simply took the powers and physical attributes of the other two. Now we discover that a new entity was formed, the three sorcerers existing as watching spectres locked within the mind. Okay, that works, I guess. Mostly, “Haunted” is interesting as an introduction to Evan Stanley's artwork. Though she'd soon become a reliable penciler, Stanley's work here is a bit rough. Naugus looks a little too anime-esque and the motion is a bit stiff. The opening panel – Naugus awakening from a white void – is pretty cool though. Stanley would get better the more she worked on the book.

Issue 231is a bit of a bummer. That's not a problem. Flynn keeps the stakes personal, rooting these events in the characters' emotions. I just wish there was a little more of that stuff here, more of Sonic reacting to Sally's transformation, than the plot rocketing forward at such a speedy rate. Whether or not Flynn ends up justifying all of these cruel plot turns – from what I remember, some of them are and some of them aren't – is yet to be seen. If nothing else, it's an exciting and interesting issue with some top-rate artwork. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 220

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 220
Publication Date: December 2010

Ian Flynn would wrap up 2010 by finishing up his latest two-parter. “In the Service of the King: Part Two” begins with Sonic still adrift in the Special Zone, after Geoffrey St. John left him there to rot. Sonic manages to appease Feist and escape. Meanwhile, St. John brings a Chaos Emerald to Ixis Naugus, restoring his sanity. The sorcerer then reveals that the skunk is his apprentice and the two have plans for New Mobotrobolis. Inside the city, Mina presents her band with some politically motivated music.

Last time, I said I wasn't a fan of the reveal of St. John being a traitor. It never made much sense to me for multiple reasons. St. John was introduced as a man deeply loyal to the crown. His entire personality has always hinged on his servitude to the Acorn crown. Revealing that this was an act the entire time – literally his entire life in the book – is the cheapest of plot twist. Secondly, St. John has never shown any interest in magic before, usually sticking to more practical choices. Suddenly learning that he's been trained as a wizard his entire life just comes out of nowhere. Over all, the only reason I can think why Flynn would do this is because St. John was a divisive character in the Archie “Sonic” fandom, disliked by many fans. I guess Flynn was among that number too. That such a dumb reveal would set up the next year's story would be even more exhausting.

Aside from the dumbness of this plot turn, “In the Service of the King: Part Two” is a decently paced story. The sequence of Sonic escaping Feist's magical realm is amusing. The hedgehog wisely goes against his own instincts by not moving. This bores the panda thing, so the god-like entity allows Sonic to play a game for his escape. The segment that follows, of Sonic bouncing along balls of astral energy, is entertaining. As always, the Special Zone is such an imaginative setting. Visiting it is always fun.

While I dislike the St. John turn, I enjoy another simmering storyline a little more. Mina is still pissed off about Nicole's defenses being compromised during the “Iron Dominion” arc. This causes her to change her musical styling from mindless pop to serious music with a decidedly anti-Nicole act. Even her band is against this at first. Ash admits that he had to tone her lyrics down a little. This provides some of Mina's strongest character development in a while. Have we ever even seen this character get really angry before? Has she ever used her music to express emotions beyond her infatuation with Sonic? That's growth I approve of.

So how about a back-up story? “From the Inside Out” is told from an initially unknown person's perspective. Robotnik rants and raves about replacing the Dark Legionnaire's cybernetics. It quickly becomes apparent that he's talking to Lien-Da. The mad doctor healed all her injuries with brand new, organic-looking mechanics. This leads to the two making a new deal.

Back in issue 211, Flynn clearly flirted with the possibility of killing off Lien-Da. She got blown the fuck up. But, this being comic books, we know a death isn't certain unless a body is on the page. With this story, Flynn finally reveals that Lien-Da did survive, being healed by the man that played a role in her near-death. It's nice to see her again, even if I really wonder why Lien-Da would team with Robotnik again, considering how many times he's tried to kill her. Moreover, “From the Inside Out” is told in a really clever way. Presenting most of the story from Lien-Da's perspective not only generates some mystery – it takes you a page or two to figure out whose eyes we're seeing through – but it also further puts you in her shoes. It's a decent little five-pager.

Jamal Peppers has contributed some fantastic artwork to the book throughout 2010. He draws all of issue 220. The cover story' s middle section is mostly composed of St. John, Mogul and Naugus talking. Even though this is just people making terse faces at each other in a small room, Peppers makes it as dynamic as anything else in the book. The series of panels devoted to Naugus regaining his intelligence are especially eye-catching. The back-up story also looks fantastic, helped along by some really sharp shading. My only complaint is that I wish he had gone a little trippier with the Special Zone. Otherwise, it's an excellent looking book.

I have some serious qualms about the changes the book will undergo over the next year. However, I can't hold that against issue 220 too much. The game Flynn is playing with St. John is frustrating and so I have to knock a point off the book's score. Otherwise, this is a pretty solid comic book, with some fun sequences, good character development, and a fine back-up story. [6/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 205

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 205
Publication Date: October 2009

Just recently, I was yelling about misleading comic book covers. It's a proud tradition of the art form. In the days before comic shops ruled the industry, when most people bought comics at new stands, outrageous covers that frequently did not reflect the books' actual content were done to draw in youthful eyes. Even in 2009, Archie was keeping this tradition alive. No, Sonic and Robotnik do not team up in issue 205. That doesn't even come close to happening. But, you know, I bet it probably sold a few more issues.

“On the Run Part One: Put All Your Eggs in One Basket” – Do you like egg puns? You better like some fucking egg puns – begins where the last issue left off. While still ranting and raving, Robotnik escapes his padded cell. Despite being a rambling lunatic, he manages to escape the Egg-Dome in a giant robotic tortoise. Sonic encounters the mad doctor while exploring the woods and is quickly disturbed by his scrambled actions. After Sonic and Tails apprehend the nutty doctor, they consider returning him to Mobotropolis and putting him in jail. That's when the Iron Queen catches up with them.

Ian is running with the idea that his most recent defeat has completely shattered the Eggman's sanity. But don't expect this mental breakdown to make the villain more dangerous. The book mostly plays Robotnik's lapse into total madness for comedy. He shouts references to the “Pingas!” internet meme, as well as the music video remix relating to said meme. His behavior is unhinged but child-like, delusional. He allows Sonic to circle his vehicle for several minutes. I'm not sure about the goofy comedic moments but making Robotnik pathetic, even sympathetic, is an interesting move.

Even more interesting is Sonic's reaction to his greatest enemy being reduced to a gibbering lunatic. As previously references in issue 200, Sonic actually feels bad for the guy. This leads to an interesting conversation between Sonic and Tails. Tails believes Eggman is beyond forgiveness. Sonic isn't so sure. Either way, they both agree that leaving him to the mercy of the Iron Dominion is cruel and decide to incarcerate him in Mobotropolis instead. It's an interesting moral dilemma to put our hero in. Usually, Sonic just runs fast, smashes robots, and makes quibs. Actually discussing the nature of justice is an unexpected but appreciated shift.

But this is still a comic book for the seven-to-twelve crowd. We've got to have our action scenes. Due to Robotnik being nuttier than squirrel shit, the fight scene is rather one-sided. The initial sight of his Egg-Tortoise tearing up the forest is actually rather startling. So is a panel afterwards, of Sonic being tossed aside by an explosion. Though the best action beat in the story is one of the more low-key ones. After Tails effortlessly disables Robotnik's robo-turtle, Sonic offers the scientist a hand... And he gets a straight-up punch in the face for his troubles. It made me laugh anyway.

In some ways, this feels like a transitional issue. The opening scenes are devoted to Sonic checking in on Bunnie in the hospital. There, he runs into Monkey Khan, who is still feeling sorry for himself about what happened recently. What's especially amusing about these scenes is Dr. Quack grumbling at both of his patients, for not staying in bed. Quack has been part of the comic for over a decade but has never been developed much. Flynn does more for the waterfowl in a handful of pages than past writers have done in years. This moment also shows Khan's continuing development, that he's starting to get over his guilt a little.

Steven Butler is still penciling the book and doing a great job. He gets several opportunities to draw Robotnik's grotesque face, which he seems to relish. As always, Butler's attention to detail is especially valuable. A nice, small touch has Robotnik continuing to wear his straitjacket, as a stylish cape, throughout most of the issue. He also gets a bunch of leathery electronic wrapped around one arm. I'm not sure when that happened but it does look cool. Butler even manages to make the Egg-Tortoise, a very goofy concept, look threatening. His character work is also fantastic.

During the cover story, Lien-Da walks away to sulk in her bunk. The back-up story, “Birthright: Part One,” picks up with Lien-Da laying in her bed, thinking about her past. She reflects on her time in the Twilight Cage, when she conspired with Kragok to murder their father. Lien-Da successfully pulls off the assassination but gets herself heavily injured in the process. She lived but Kragok took over the Dark Legion while she was out.

Lien-Da's ruthlessness has always endeared me to her. She's a villain who treats her adversaries with no mercy. Yet “Birthright” gets you to feel a little bad for her. She reflects on her failures. Despite numerous stabs at power, she has never achieved her goal of becoming the Grand Master of the Dark Legion. Moreover, her failures are laced with personal betrayal. Kragok promised her that they would rule the Legion together, after their dad's death. Instead, he intentionally boobie-trapped the blaster she used, knowing it would blow up in her face. While she was rehabilitating in the hospital, he assumed power without her. What a dick! Lien-Da may be an unrepentant villain but she has feelings too.

By the way, Jamal Peppers' pencils on the back-story are also very strong. Overall, issue 205 is a solid one. The cover story introduces a heady conflict for the hero which is compelling. The back story is a decent character piece, devoting to exploring a villain's history. The artwork is good throughout. The humor is a little heavy-handed but I enjoyed this one. Let's see if Flynn can keep it up in part two. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 177

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 177
Publication Date: July 2007

With issue 177, the first major story arc of 2007 wraps up. Sonic began this story totally defeated at his enemy's hands. He would end it victorious. While it may seemed like Flynn planned it that way, apparently the corporate overlords intervene. As previously discussed, one of Sega's brain dead mandates on the book was that Sonic could never loose. This would seem to limit the series' plotting potential, since the hero potentially loosing his fights is kind of what causes dramatic tension in actions series like this. Sega would only allow the crushing defeat in 175 if it had turned around by 177. But it all worked out okay, because Flynn was once really good at working around the dumb mandates.

Having escaped Robotnik's Egg Grapes last issue, the Freedom Fighters are happily hanging out in the New Mobotropolis Nicole has built for them from the Nanite City. The surrounding force field is strong enough to protect against the Eggman Empire's constant bombardment. Inside the dome, Sonic and his friends tend to the wounded and realize the magnitude of what they have won. Eventually, Robotnik comes calling for another personal showdown.

Despite what the cover promises, this is not an action packed story. In fact, it's almost an entirely character-centric conclusion. That's a pretty interesting idea, ending an event story line with an extended resolution like this. Maybe that's fitting, considering what Ian has pulled off here. “Home, New Home” finishes the reconstruction he's been putting the comic through for the last year and a half. The new status quo is set up with this one. The heroes have a new base, a new line of defense against their greatest enemy. The changes aren't exactly done but all the debris that was laying around when Flynn first came on the book has been swept away, the useful pieces built into something more orderly and focused.

That this story is given such an affectionate title as “Home, New Home” is very fitting. One of the things I loved so much about SatAM and the comic's early days is how homey and comfortable Knothole Village felt. Yes, Sonic and his friends were fighting a guerrilla war against a dictator with a humanity draining weapon. That has been lost for quite some time, since King Elias and Karl Bollers rebuilt the tiny village into a growing city. With “Home, New Home,” Flynn has recaptured that early feeling of safety, of comfort. New Mobotropolis is a lot more then just simple grass huts. Yet it maintains the comfort, the familiarity of the old location. It also has an nigh-impenetrable laser shield and the city can even come alive to protect people, confirming that safe feeling.

Issue 177 is also about examining the losses that have occurred. Nobody has died during the Eggman Empire arc. Maybe somebody should've. Maybe Ian got his blood lust out of the way during “The Darkest Storm.” Yet the Freedom Fighters didn't come away from this fight without some injuries. Rotor's back is in a sling, after being buried in some rubble during Snively's attack on Freedom HQ. Charmy is still acting very peculiar, following his exposure to the Egg Grapes. Sonic... Well, he's mostly okay, according to Dr. Quack. It's not a huge deal but, when mainstream comics toss major injuries and deaths aside with such ease, it's nice to focus on the recovery a bit.

A major goal of Flynn's, that has been very apparent for the last few issues, was to de-bitch-ify Princess Sally. He's had her back on the battle field more often. He's had her apologizing for the grossly out-of-character writing she suffered under Boller's pen. He's had the People's Princess interacting with the commoners more, realizing an important part of her royal duty is to serve the public. In other words, Flynn has given Sally her agency back, so that she's no longer at the whims of the plot. This comes full circle in “Home, New Home.” Sally gets a significant haircut. She looses the long red hair she's been sporting since the “Home” arc. She's back to the tomboy-ish bob she wore in the SatAM days. This visual cue makes something all too clear: The Sally we fell in love with is back. Thank god for that.

Through all of this character work, Ian is still finding time to squirrel away older, lingering plot points. This speaks to either his strengths as an organized writer or just how much bullshit was left by the old crew. Probably both. Anyway, Robotnik sends the team of B-list villains – Mogul, Naugus, Nack, Bean and Bark – to intimidate the Freedom Fighters. Instead, Nicole uses the city's new built in defenses to immediately teleport them into jail cells. This leaves these guys alive but indisposed, until Ian finds a place for them again. We also see Hope Kintobor for the first time in a while. Pissed at Snively for lying to her, she flies off. This also allows Ian to some breathing room, to use Hope at a later date.

He also uses this slower paced issue to set up more future plot points. During the siege on new Mobotropolis, we catch up with what Dr. Finitevus is up to. Something sinister, it turns out. He's prepping the return of Enerjak or, more accurately, the unveiling of a new Enerjak. This also reminds us that Scourge is still out there, being an asshole. Lastly, Tails' parents continue to hint at their plans for the royalty. At the times, this was probably meant to suggest something more severe. Maybe their time in outer space scrambled their brains, making them evil? Flynn would go in a different direction with that, something a little less trite. Setting up the new blocks after knocking down the old ones is smart writing.

The token action sequence this issue includes also has its purpose. When Robotnik lands in front of New Mobotropolis, still wearing the Egg Beater armor, he demands to face Sonic again. The hedgehog marches outside to fight. And he brings all his friends along with him. This makes two points. That the Freedom Fighters are the greatest assets Sonic has, that they won't be going anywhere in Flynn's brave new world. It also serves to humiliate Robotnik the way he humiliate Sonic two issues ago. Which is fair and fitting.

In conclusion, “Home, New Home” is a pretty great conclusion to a pretty great story arc. It's a deeply satisfying read, promising exciting new adventures to come while giving our heroes a victory they can be proud of. It also returns some really important elements, and feelings too, that have been absent for a while. Which is really important to me, an old school Sonic fan who likes things done a certain way. [8/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 176

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 176
Publication Date: June 2007

Issue 175 of Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” series would establish new writer Ian Flynn's structure going forward. That issue would start a three part story arc, running through 177. Throughout the next two years, going towards the next anniversary edition, that's how things would function for “Sonic.” Simple, concise storylines that run for three or four issues, taking place in the new order Flynn had built for himself. In retrospect, it might very well be the writer's best period, as he kept up a consistent sense of quality. Considering how the book was floundering only recently, that counts for a lot.

Anyway, “Cracking the Empire” continues where 175's “Eggman Empire” left off. After torching Knothole and leaving Sonic to stew in his defeat, Robotnik heads off to his home city to luxuriate in his victory. Before he can turn on the Egg Grapes, and drain the hedgehog's friends and family of their life sources, a rescue mission bursts in. Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, and Amy, working off a plan from Nicole, attack Robotnik's lab and free their captive friends. They find themselves in a new home, one Nicole has built from the ashes of the old. Yet this victory isn't won quite so easily.

I'll admit, “Cracking the Empire” is slightly disappointing. After seeing Dr. Robotnik crush Sonic's home and his spirit so totally last issue, the remaining Freedom Fighter's immediately turning around and attempting a perfect rescue mission seems anticlimactic. It's not an especially complex plan either. The quartet of heroes ride into Robotropolis, bust their way into the Egg Chamber, and free their friends. The only conniving aspect of the plan is how they escape, what with Nicole reprogramming Robotnik's teleportation beams to send them to safety. I don't necessarily want to see our heroes miserable and defeated but maybe they shouldn't have bounced back from their previous defeat so easily.

Instead, Flynn sticks our heroes dealing with being beaten into the beginning of the book. Sonic returns to the ruins of Freedom HQ. Amy is distraught. Knuckles is stunned. Tails, meanwhile, is angry. He gets into an argument with Sonic, incensed that his friend is so casual about the massive defeat they just suffered, mistaking Sonic's resolve for apathy. This continues a plot point Flynn has been playing with from the beginning of his run. That Sonic and Tails' friendship is about to come to blows, years of resentment showing its ugly head. We'll see pay-off on that soon enough. Like I said, I don't necessarily want to see the heroes in-fighting like this forever. But maybe a little more stuff like this would've made that rescue mission more meaningful.

Another reason Sonic and pals can rescue the other Freedom Fighters so easily is because Robotnik takes time to gloat. Instead of immediately turning the captured heroes into living batteries, he humiliates them further by saying mean things to them. On one hand, I totally get this. Watching Robotnik gloat is admittedly fun and in character. He's a sadistic bastard and a bit of a ham. Yet it also shows Ian falling prey to a very old flaw: The Villainous Monologue, such an ubiquitous troupe that mocking it isn't even fun anymore. Again, if Robotnik really wanted to win, he should've just murdered everyone immediately. But that's comic books, I guess.

What really saves “Cracking the Empire” from just being a collection of cliches is the touching conclusion. Like I said, bombing Knothole to the ground was Flynn rather literally portraying in the comic what he's spent the last year doing. And, in 176, he continues this literal streak. Now, Knothole has been rebuilt. Nicole has taken the still remaining Nanite City, left over from so many issues back, and remade it into a New Mobotropolis. As in, a new capitol city of the Kingdom of Acorn and Mobius. Years before, after Endgame, the Freedom Fighters reclaiming the old Mobotropolis was a mixed victory. They got their city back but it had been ruined by Robotnik's abuse. The heroes rebuilding their city totally from scratch, into something new and pure, is way more touching. New Mobotropolis represents hope for the resistance. Which is hope for the reader too.
New Mobotropolis also allows for another hopeful reveal. Flynn has referenced Nicole's holographic lynx form a few times over his run. By building a city for her friends, Nicole has created a place where she can keep her lynx avatar active at all times. This begins another serious change the writer has been pushing for since he came on. Nicole's personality has grown a lot over the last year or so. Now, her growth into an actual character can really begin. Sally greeting the Holo-Lynx with a big hug is even more touching.

Tracy Yardley's artwork really gets a workout on this one. His strength for big emotions, maybe even overdone emotions, comes through in the earliest scenes, when Amy is crying and Sonic and Tails are arguing. The faces are really vivid, almost comically so. This comes up again when Sally believes Sonic has led them into a dead end. She makes a face so anguished, it's actually sort of painful to look at. The panels of Robotnik villainously gloating about his victory are framed by shots of Sonic and the others sneaking into his city. It's also fun to look at the Egg Grapes and spot some obscure characters, like Sally's team of Substitute Freedom Fighters, making an appearance.

We're not done yet. The last page promises another conflict behind the Freedom Fighters and Robotnik. They've earned their new city but they won't get to keep it without a fight. I have some problems with issue 176. It's not as good, not as big of a gut punch, as the proceeding issue. However, there are enough decent moments – fun ones, like the action, or emotional ones, like the reveal of the new city – to redeem this one in my eyes. Hopefully this is just a slightly flubbed middle act on the way to an awesome conclusion. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 168

 
Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 168
Publication Date: November 2006

As the book reached the end of his first year as head writer, Ian Flynn really pulled out all the stops. Issue 168 is when it was explicitly clear to me that Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” book had entered a new era. And, for the first time in six years, that was a good thing. The waste of the old was being cleared away to make room for something new. Despite the goofy cover art, this is one very good comic book. Let's, as a blue cartoon hedgehog is fond of saying, do it to it.

In Robotropolis, Dr. Robotnik has finally put all the pieces together. He figures out that A.D.A.M, his sentient computer virus son, has been Anonymous, the malicious third party acting against both him and the Freedom Fighters, all along. Being a master planner, A.D.A.M foresaw this. Using the Nanites in his shell as a conduit, the virus takes over Tommy Turtle. He has the Nanites that infected Bunnie and Jules activate in Knothole, creating a distraction and grabbing Tails. He incapacitates Shadow the Hedgehog. Both Shadow and Tails are valuable parts of his plan. The villain's endgame falls into place and he's rearing to take both Eggman and Sonic out.

With the first part of the very appropriately named “Order from Chaos,” Ian Flynn pulled off practically a damn miracle. As their run on the book came to an end, Ken Penders and Karl Bollers threw out probably a dozen plot points that never went anywhere or did anything. Seems like both writers were just throwing lots of things against the wall, seeing what would stick. Or maybe they were out of ideas. Either way, the book had become a mess. Though he started his clean-up in “The Darkest Storm,” with “Order from Chaos,” Flynn takes nearly every point the previous writers sets up and ties them together into a coherent plan.

That lame attempt to make Tommy Turtle interesting by giving him Nanite-powered transforming abilities? Actually a plot by Anonymous to give himself a physical form. The Nanites being released and building a city? The city was a distraction, so the Nanites could pulled the homing rod A.D.A.M really needs for his plan. That business of Bunnie, Nicole, and Jules being infected by Nanites? That was so A.D.A.M has eyes in Knothole and perfect ways to distract the Freedom Fighters. Those robotic Destructix that appeared and reappeared a few times? Fakes, sent to make sure Robotnik watched the faked video of somehow talking to them. Shadow working for Eggman? Well, Shadow is needed for Anonymous' master plan too. That business of Tails being the Chosen One and bringing about the Great Harmony? The writer is going to get to that as well. It might seem convoluted but that it makes sense at all is fucking amazing.

Probably the greatest stroke of genius was turning Tommy Turtle into a villain. (Or, at least, the physical embodiment of one.) In the two-or-so years he had been a main member of the cast, Tommy had accomplished nothing but annoy the hell out of readers. Making him into a bad guy redirected all of that fan resentment in the right direction. Flynn even makes some of Tommy's previous incompetent antics intentional acts of sabotage carried out by Anonymous. The turtle gains a silvery redesign that is even somewhat intimidating, looking like what I imagine Mecha-Gamera would be. To prove he's a bad-ass, he has A.D.A.M./Tommy easily subdue Shadow. Which is probably an example of Shadow succumbing to the Worf Effect but, fuck it, I'll allow it.

Yeah, I guess another somewhat unsightly cliché is employed in this story. As Anonymous slots Shadow and Tails into his machine, he explains his master plan. That's right, he performs a villainous monologue, detailing every aspect of his evil scheme before crushing his opponent. You could even call this exposition, as A.D.A.M pauses to explain something about Chaos Emerald, the objects he seeks to gather. All of this is true. But I'm so impressed by the writers ability to make sense out of all this nonsense that I'm willing to let this stuff slide a little.

What elevates “Order from Chaos” from being a good story to a truly outstanding is that Flynn still finds room for some emotional content. When Bunnie marches into Rotor's lab, she is not under her own control. The Nanites are forcing her arms and legs, causing her to smash Nicole's monitor and attack Sonic. All the while, tears are streaming from her eyes. The Chaotix are called in to subdue her. Unlike the quasi-rape Bunnie suffered in “Sonic's Angels,” Ian makes sure that Bunnie keeps her agency during this ordeal. It's not just an action beat but a sequence of honest emotion. Sonic's interaction with his dad, also controlled by the villain, gets another almost tearful moment from our hero.

In the back pages, Ian Flynn picks up another plot point that a previous writer introduced and then seemingly forgot about. I'm referring to Antoine's father falling sick. “Courage and Honor” opens with Antoine in his hut, still in disarray from Anti-Antoine's time in Knothole. A touching moment between Bunnie and Antoine is interrupted when Sonic bursts into the room. He has bad news. General D'Coolette, who was also poisoned by Anti-Antoine, has taken a turn for the worst.  The coyote and his girlfriend gather around his sick father, having a heart-to-heart before Antoine's dad finally passes.

General D'Coolette becoming sick is a plot point that nobody has mentioned since Karl Bollers introduced it back in issue 153.  Even the clarification that Anti-Antoine poisoned the General is Flynn's invention. That's how little attention the previous staff paid attention to stuff. Flynn uses that dangling plot point to build a touching story. As Antoine and Bunnie sit around the General's hospital bed, Antoine apologizes for his past cowardice and rash actions. His father forgives him, insisting that he was always proud of his son, that he always loved him. He even finds time to bless Antoine and Bunnie's relationship. The elder D'Coolette was never much of a character but, in his last appearance, Flynn makes him a real living thing. He makes his loss felt. It's surprisingly heartfelt stuff. (I imagine Ian's feelings were genuine. He dedicates the story to his deceased mother.)

“Courage and Honor” is a really well written story. It's a shame that the artwork isn't up to that same standard. Someone named Gary Bedell does the pencil for this story. Bedell draws the Mobians with weirdly stretched out bodies. Bunnie, for one example, looks about seven feet tall. Everyone's limbs are too long, too skinny. The heads are too round, everyone's faces looking the same. Sonic's spines, meanwhile, drape all the way done his back in a really weird looking way. I will give Bedell this much. His facial expressions are good, so he still manages to express the emotion at the center of this story.

Tracy Yardley's pencils on the cover story, by the way, are up to his usual standard of quality. Flynn's script has to unpack a lot in this one, which is why I forgive him for one or two contrived move. Otherwise, the cover story moves super quickly and smoothly, cutting through about two years of bullshit in a way that looks easy. The back-up story, meanwhile, is a genuinely touching story about a father and son coming together just as one of them is about to die. I don't give out really high grades on this blog very often but, fuck it, this is a [9/10.]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 159

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 159
Publication Date: February 2006

Well, guys, we are here at last. Issue 159 is the final issue of “Sonic the Hedgehog” that Ken Penders would work on. With his exit, one era of Archie Sonic history – with, admittedly, wildly divergent ups and downs – was about to end. Another era, one widely regarded as the comic's best, was about to begin. As far as transitional issues go, 159 hardly wraps up any of Ken's lingering plot points. In fact, it sets up a few more! This suggests that his departure from the book was rather sudden. If I didn't know for a fact that he left willingly, I would assume he was fired.

So let's get to “System Reboot.” During their attack on Knothole, Hope is injured by a Metal Sonic Trooper. This forces Shadow and Sonic to work together, grabbing the girl and running her to safety inside of the King's castle. Afterwards, the two continue to work together to defeat the Metal Sonic horde. Robotnik, meanwhile, sits back and watches, actually hoping his enemy saves the day, since the troopers threaten both of them.

You know how the previous comic's cover trumpeted the fight between Sonic and Shadow as if it was a big deal? And then ended by setting up the brawl? Yeah, that lasts all of two pages. Granted, the reasoning for the fight – Shadow blames Sonic for Hope's injury, for some reason – is as thin as you can get. Instead, “Reboot” is devoted to the two rivals actually finding common ground. They work together to rescue Hope. They fight along side each other to stop the Metal Sonics. In a moment that's very nearly touching, Sonic even extends a branch of friendship towards his gruff rival. And Shadow smiles back! It's not exactly organic but at least it's a little more interesting then the two just wailing on each other all the time.

Sadly, every step forward is a step back. For reasons I can't remember now, Knuckles and the Chaotix are in town, fighting off the robots. When Shadow uses his Chaos Control powers to teleport Hope to the castle, Knuckles witnesses it. Later, Shadow uses the same ability to deactivate a whole fleet of machines. Knuckles confronts the hedgehog about it, realizing Shadow can tap into the Chaos Force, an ability previously limited to Guardians. So that's how you can tell Ken was starting to care about Shadow. He wrapped him up in the convoluted mythology revolving around Knuckles, his dad, and the Floating Island. That's one plot point I'm happy was dropped. That particular strain of bullshit wasn't needed at this moment. Or ever, for that matter.

Truthfully, “System Reboot” is a little more character oriented then you might expect. After arriving at the castle, Sonic announces how pissed off he is. How he thinks the Metal Sonic Troopers were an obviously bad idea and wonders why the King ever approved them. The moment doesn't go much further then that. Elias informs Sonic that he wasn't King then so there's no reason to yell at him. The story has to move on from there, getting Sonic to fight the machines. Still, I appreciate the writer for letting the hedgehog expresses these thoughts. I was thinking the same thing. I'm sure other readers were too.

The action nearly gets pushed totally aside. There's the brief Sonic/Shadow fight in the beginning. The last half features three whole pages of Sonic fighting the Troopers. He tackles a few, gets shot with an eye beam, and then whips up a tornado that blows most of them away. (Shadow and his special powers then arrive to finish off the rest.) It's pretty underwhelming. Ron Lim's pencils are as lackluster as ever. Then again, I wasn't very invested in that plot line anyway. Might as well blow it away quickly and cleanly.

Throughout the last two issues, Ken kept pausing for these really weird moments where Jules and Bernie worried about their son. These scenes barely connected with the other things going on in the story. This incredibly awkward subplot concludes here in an incredibly awkward manner. After saving the day, Elias awards Sonic a medal and a royal designation. Jules and Bernie are overwhelmed with pride, realizing their boy has truly grown up. What makes this weird is Sonic's parents barely interact with him during this story. Wouldn't some conversations with Jules and Bernie have handled this plot point in a more compelling manner? Does Ken know that parents are suppose to talk to their kids? (If he truthfully didn't know that, it would explain so much.)

Dr. Robotnik took a backseat throughout the cover story. I guess to make up for this, the back-up story stars him. It's called “Insidious” and, sadly, no lipstick-faced demons appear. Instead, the story revolves around A.D.A.M. explaining to Robotnik that they still have partial control over the nanites inside Knothole. Tommy Turtle is already infected. Using the remote link, A.D.A.M. gets the nanites to infect Bunnie's cybernetic limbs and Nicole, hoping they will take down the Freedom Fighters from within their own base.

“Insidious” is a very bland story devoted to setting up future stories. The conversation between Eggman and A.D.A.M is heavy on the exposition, making it a snore to read through. Penders draws the story himself. His pencils are not as grotesque as they sometimes were. Only Bunnie looks off-model. Instead, the illustrations are just boring to look at. Which is fitting, I suppose, since the story is devoted to a conversation between a mad scientist and his computer. Not the most compelling stuff and Ken isn't strong enough a writer to make it compelling.

Like I said, both stories leave some dangling plot points, as if Ken was expecting to continue his tenure. What of Shadow's connection with the Chaos Force? What about A.D.A.M. using the nanites to infiltrate Knothole? The next writer would only pick up one of these plot points, likely taking it in a very different direction then what Penders intended. Having said that, there is something like a point of finality to Ken's final issue. Sonic getting a medal of honor and being elevated to Gentleman-at-Arms status is a decent stopping point, as is Shadow's growing humanity. If the comic had ended with Penders' exit, it certainly wouldn't have been a satisfying conclusion. Yet it almost feels like an ending.

Good-bye, Ken Penders. His tenure on “Sonic” has been a long, usually frustrating ride. For all his flaws – his many, many flaws – I can't hate Ken's work. For better or worst, he built most of the comic's early history. He created a lot of characters I like, even a few I love. The weird world that Archie Sonic inhabited is mostly his doing. And I like that world. Towards the end of his run, Penders' writing skills really fell apart. If he had left a year or two earlier, the book would have been better off for it. Even on his best days, he was a frustrating writer. Yet, at the end, I'm still almost, sort-of, kind-of a fan. (This issue also marks Ron Lim's final Archie credit. I'm less conflicted about his departure.) His last issue wasn't entirely terrible and that's okay. Bring on Ian Flynn. [6/10] 

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 155

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 155
Publication Date: November 2005

With Karl Bollers bullied out of the book, Ken Penders was allowed to claim Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” comic as more-or-less his own. For some reason, for his first act as sole head writer, he returned to the childish romantic melodrama that characterized the awful Anti-Sonic switcharoo. Penders' continued bumbling through the love lives of Sonic and company is baffling, for a few reasons. But mostly because the love story between Knuckles and Julie-Su was actually one of the better aspect of Ken's “Knuckles” series. Maybe Ken's obvious echidna favoritism played a role in that or, perhaps, his skills have just degraded with age? Either way, “Line of Succession,” the story arc beginning in issue 155, is another notorious stinker.

The story begins with King Acorn and Queen Alicia returning home, following their long trip abroad. Instead of doing something interesting with that, the failed diplomacy trip is brushed aside with a few lines of dialogue. Anyway, it turns out that Antoine – or rather Anti-Antoine, still masquerading as the real deal – has been poisoning the king. His health failing, the King informs Sally that the time has come for to ascend to the throne. And she can't do that unless she's married, with Antoine being chosen as her suitor. Which is all according to the villain's plan. When Sonic hears this news, he's pretty upset.

We've known Antoine's evil double has been living in his shoes for at least five issues now. Antoine's gradual asshole-ification has been going on for at least a year, inside and outside the book. After all that, the comic has finally gotten around to providing some insight to Anti-Antoine's master plan. Essentially, he's been planning to murder the king and take the crown for himself. Which is admittedly a more nuanced plan then Anti-Sonic's scheme to score with as many chicks as possible. Anti-Antoine even gets a decent action beat, when he pins Sonic with his sword and kicks him into a river. But I'm not sure why it took so long for the wicked coyote – or the writers, for that matter – to get around to doing this.

Sadly, most of “Line of Succession” is devoted to brain dead romantic melodrama. Of all the book's misbegotten love triangles, the Sonic/Sally/Antoine triangle has been dead and buried for the longest period of time. Even that bullshit about the King insisting Sally marry Antoine has been a moot point for a while. Remember when Max flat-out told Sally he was fine with her dating Sonic? That character development goes out the window here, as the King dismisses Sally's relationship with the hedgehog as a silly bit of juvenilia. At least Anti-Antoine doesn't actually feel anything for Sally, wanting to marry her strictly for the sake of power. But it's still dumb.

Give credit where it's due. At least Princess Sally gets a smidgen of agency. After her dad informs her that she'll marry Antoine, Sally is understandably aghast. After the required amount of hand-wringing and tears that has sadly become typical for Sal, she thinks the situation over. She decides to go through with the marriage, not because she's forced into it, but because it's her duty as the People's Princess and the leader of Knothole. Yes, some nudging from Antoine helps her come to this conclusion. But it's something. She's not entirely a pawn in the plot, pushed around by the whims of the writer.

Sadly, the melodramatic shenanigans do not end there. The issue opens with Tails walking in on Sonic and Fiona making out. As the fox is still crushed on Fiona, from his encounter with the robotic version so long ago, it's a harsh moment for him. The Tails/Fiona thing has been simmering for a while so it's disappointing that it ends so curtly. Especially since Sonic and Fiona have never previously been an item. Furthermore, I'm not a fan of the book continue to push Sonic as a lady's man. Later in the issue, he refers to Bunnie as “babe,” suggesting there's still some sexual tension between them. I don't know why Ken wrote Sonic as such a cad. That was Anti-Sonic that was screwing around on everybody, right? Why is the real deal still doing this?

Just as Sally and Antoine are walking down the aisle, we head to our back-up story. Dulcy the Dragon takes center stage in “The Price of Flame.” At some point in the past, the Freedom Fighters asked Dulcy to light a ceremonial fire. The dragon flies away, tears in her eyes. In flashback, Dulcy reveals her past and how she lost her ability to breath fire.

Dulcy the Dragon has long been a much neglected part of the “Sonic” supporting cast. So it's nice for her to get a story arc to herself. Further more, in all this time, we've never learned much about Dulcy's background. Mike Gallagher finally fills us in. After her family was robotocized, Dulcy lived in an underground colony of dragons called Vesuvio. Contact with the outside world was forbidden. When it was discovered that Dulcy had been sneaking out to fight Robotnik, she's punished with exile. Her fire breathing abilities are also stymied, by switching out her black “scorch ring” with a power inhibiting gold Power Ring. Now, she's returning home for the first time in years.

It's as decent a backstory as any and explains why we've met so few other dragons. But Mike Gallgher's approach could've been better. As Dulcy flies back to Vesuvio, she explains her past in detail. Which amounts to a series of panels, large narration boxes overhead. It's doesn't feel much like a story, working more like an encyclopedia listing. In other words: it's another heaping load of exposition.

Worst yet, I'm pretty sure Mike wrote this story just to clear up a minor continuity error. In the past, Dulcy's nose ring has been colored as either gold or black. This is explained as Dulcy painting her golden ring black sometimes, in shame over loosing her powers. Really, Mike, we don't care about coloring errors. You don't have to devote a whole story to justifying them.

At least there's no stinky Ron Lim or Al Bigley artwork this time. James Fry draws the cover story. Fry's artwork is confident, full of expression and anime-style movement, but he's having a bit of an off-day. He even utilizes some Jon Grey style big, cartoony emotions a few times, to mixed affect. Art Mawhinney draws the back-up story. Dulcy, being a very cute character, looks good in his style. I really love the flashbacks to Dulcy's early days with the Freedom Fighters, which really brings us back to the SatAM years. Of course, lending such a cute style to a horde of multi-colored dragons does have the side effect of making this story feel like an episode of “Dragon Tales” sometimes. That's not Art's fault. Probably.

The cover story is less outright bad then it's just mostly mediocre and unnecessary, with several really obnoxious writing flaws. The back-up shoves too much info, awkwardly, into too small a place. It's pretty lame and another example of how badly this book dragged in 2005. But let's appreciate small miracles. At least the real Antoine will be back soon. This other guy is a prick. [5/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 153

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 153
Publication Date: September 2005

Issue 153 begins a story arc called “Songoose,” revolving around Mina Mongoose and her music. That songs feature prominently in this is fitting. Issue 153 would be the swan song for Karl Bollers' involvement in Archie's “Sonic” series. Once one of the book's best writers, Karl would write his share of stinkers, receiving some not-unfair blame for the comic's Dork Age. Bollers' exit is mostly blamed on increasingly common arguments with fellow head writer Ken Penders. Though I feel the book's recent dip in quality must've informed Karl's decision. Whatever the reason, “Songoose” would be the beginning of the end of Bollers' stint on “Sonic.”

Mina the Mongoose is coming to Knothole to perform a big concert. The Freedom Fighters hope it will rise the spirits of everyone around town. Instead, Nack the Weasel appears in the crowd and attempts to assassinate Mina. Once captured, he admits why. Robotnik hates the mongoose's infectiously catchy tunes and demands her head on a platter. Realizing the dictator won't stop with one failed attempt, Sally assigns Sonic to be the pop star's personal bodyguard.

The reasoning behind Robotnik wanting Mina dead is kind of cute. After the weasel gets tossed in prison, realizing his ex-partners are there and ready to kick his ass, he immediately weasels out his employer. We are then greeted to four highly amusing panels devoted to Robotnik hearing one of Mina's song, the tune getting stuck in his head, and being tormented by the number's persistent presence in his brain. This recalls the comic's earlier, goofier days, a pleasant respite the recent romantic entanglements and grimness of Bunnie being robo-raped. (Which I guess shows you how dark the book has gotten, when the attempted assassination of a pop star is actually considered a more whimsical element.)

I do wish the actual assassination was carried out a little better. Nack sneaks into Mina's concert, wearing sunglasses and a trench coat, a not exactly inconspicuous fashion choice. He shoots a fiery blast from a weird handheld blaster, missing horribly and setting a palm tree ablaze. Sonic then rushes Mina out of the way and quickly bonks Nack on the head into unconsciousness. Weirdly, three whole panels are devoted to Bunnie kicking the flaming tree into a near-by lake, as if it posed ans equal a threat as the murderous weasel. The whole sequence mostly makes Nack seem incompetent, making you wonder why Robotnik hired him in the first place.

With Mina's return to singing, the lingering attraction between her and Sonic also returns. I don't know how many times the book has buried that one – at least three times, by my count? - but it's the subplot that just won't die. Ash is clearly jealous of Sonic, while the blue hedgehog clearly continues to inspire Mina's lyrics. That's not the only tension in the air. In one panel, Tails awkwardly attempts to ask Fiona out on a date, still holding a torch for the vixen. Hoping to save the little guy's heart, Sonic instead invites the whole group to the concert. This leads to Fiona talking about how hard it was for her to forgive Sonic, for abandoning her at that Robotnik prison camp years ago. It's not a great scene but is still the most character development Fiona has gotten.

The romantic stuff is admittedly the better handled emotional aspect in this story. “Songoose: Part 1” begins with General D'Coolette watching Sonic and the Chaotix sparing. After a conversation with the King and Queen, still overseas, the old man collapses from some unspecified malady. You'd think this would to a scene of Anti-Antoine, still masquerading as the real deal, responding to this news with a cold heart. Or perhaps walking away from his dad's hospital room, unmoved? This, in turn, would raise the Freedom Fighters' suspicions about what's up with the coyote. Instead, we merely hear Bunnie and Sonic talk about how cold-hearted Antoine has become. Furthermore, these scenes don't really connect with the rest of the issue's story. The book will resolve the Anti-Antoine plot point soon and I can't wait. It's been so dumb, mismanaged so badly.

The cover story's somewhat whimsical tone continues with the back-up, entitled “Fairy Tale or the Adventures of Pirate Sally.” The orphans Sasha, Snaggle, and Rory have come down with a cold. They beg Rosie to tell them a story, to take their minds off their sickness. The nanny spins a yarn about a good pirate named Sally. After an elf version of Tails literally falls out of the sky, he tells Sally's crew a story about how one of his tails was stolen by the minion of an evil wizard. On their journey to retrieve the kid's tail, Sally will encounter a brave hedgehog knight, a dark rider, a troll, and an evil wizard.

“Fairy Tale” is silly but it's also pretty cute. The fantasy fiction spins on Sonic and friends aren't especially clever. It's weird that Robotnik is turned into the evil wizard while Ixis Naugus – an actual evil wizard – is relegated to a one panel cameo. Rouge, appearing as the Rogue Assassin, and Mogul as a troll get similarly small roles. However, the image of Sally as an eye-patch wearing pirate, having adventures with an elf Tails and a knight Sonic, is fun. The five page length, with two of those pages devoted to Rosie telling the kids the story, isn't nearly enough time to explore the fantasy setting. I do like the kids criticizing the holes in Rosie's story, a funny moment.

Adding to my enjoyment of “Fairy Tale” is some awesome pencils from Art Mawhinney. He makes Sally as a pirate look surprisingly cool. The action scenes, while brief, are well orchestrated. Art's cute style is especially well suited to this story. The orphans look adorable. So do Sally and the gang in the bed time story. After they've been broken up for a year, it touches my heart to see Sonic and Sally nearly kiss, in Art's SatAM-esque style. Even if it is in a non-canon fantasy stories. Art's excellent work is certainly a step-up from Ron Lim's work on the first tale. Though Lim does pull off a decent panel of Nack or Mina, his characters remain noodle-limbed and wide-eyed. Even this represents an improvement for Lim, as his action scenes have a little more pop to them then usual.

I suppose this issue is also the swan song for Romy Chacon, as “Fairy Tale” appears to be his final credit on the book. Chacon was a far more uneven writer then Bollers, though I suppose I'll miss him too. The cover story has its moments and the back-up is cute, meaning issue 153 is actually one of the better “Sonic” comics to be published in 2005, even if it's still just shy of mediocre. (In other news: The annoying habit of Archie including extended advertisements in the middle of the book continued with 153. Midway through the issue is a five page insert inviting you to buy “The Batman” pasta from Campbell's. Thankfully, and obviously, this is clipped from the digital version.) [6/10]